Please provide name and email

Fox wants details of energy savings shared with Islanders

Posted|September 1, 2017

August 30, 2017

Fox wants details of energy savings shared with Islanders

Borden-Carleton - Opposition Leader Jamie Fox would like to see the MacLauchlan government clarify details about the energy cost savings it has promised for Islanders as a result of the completion of the Northumberland power cable project.

“The power cable is an important infrastructure piece for the Island to help stabilize and secure our energy transmission. It’s something we long advocated for so it’s good to see the project now completed but the MacLauchlan government’s promise of lower energy costs for residents and businesses deserves more scrutiny. Especially since we’re currently locked into annual power rate increases through 2019,” said Fox.

Yesterday in a series of public comments from senior government officials and online posts the MacLauchlan government stated the new power cable will result in lower energy costs for Island consumers and businesses. This contradicts previous testimony to the Standing Committee on Infrastructure and Energy from Energy Minister Paula Biggar and officials from the PEI Energy Corporation who expressed doubt that any power rate decreases would be on the horizon, even after completion of the power cable project. Currently Island residents and businesses are locked into a three year power purchase agreement through 2019 between the province and Maritime Electric that sees rate increases of 2.3 per cent annually.

“How much savings are we talking about here? Island residents and businesses have long paid very high power rates and they deserve some relief. If there are energy cost savings to be had when will Islanders see some relief from these high energy costs?” asked Fox.

Islanders deserve to see the findings of the Auditor General’s investigation into the government’s failed eGaming project before voters begin casting ballots in the Summerside-Wilmot by-election... see more